Mythology Hell Bear American Whiskey
Mythology Hell Bear American Whiskey is a 90-proof (45% ABV), 750mL blend of straight rye whiskey and straight bourbons aged 3 to 5 years, from Mythology Distillery in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Named for a Colorado prospector legend — a part-bear, part-badger creature said to guide lost prospectors home — it layers a high-rye 2–3-year rye with 4- and 5-year bourbons for a pour that is spicy up front and silky at the finish. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 45% (90 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: no age statement; blend of straight whiskeys aged 3–5 years (rye 2–3 yr; bourbons 4 and 5 yr)
- Origin: distilled and blended in Steamboat Springs, Colorado
- Blend: straight rye (95% rye / 5% malted barley) + two straight bourbons (high-rye and wheated); exact proportions unpublished
- Awards: Double Gold, 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
A Colorado Legend in a Bottle
Hell Bear is Mythology Distillery's flagship story pour. The distillery blends three straight whiskeys — a punchy 95%-rye young rye for spice, a 4-year high-rye bourbon for backbone, and a 5-year wheated bourbon for softness — into something greater than the parts: berries and botanicals up front, big cinnamon rye spice through the middle, and a long vanilla-caramel finish. The Double Gold from San Francisco backs up the hype. For fans of American whiskey who like their pours bold but balanced, this is a Colorado original worth seeking out.
Tasting Notes
Per the distillery: initial notes of fruit and botanicals, followed by prominent rye spice and oak, resolving to a smooth vanilla-caramel finish. Retail tasters add berries up front, big cinnamon spice, sweet cereal grains, and lasting vanilla and baking spices.
How to Enjoy
Neat to catch the full arc from fruit to spice to caramel, or on a large cube. The 90 proof and rye-forward profile make it a serious Manhattan or Old Fashioned base — try it next to other bourbons and ryes in a side-by-side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hell Bear a rye whiskey?
No — despite the old shelf type, it is a blend of straight rye whiskey and two straight bourbons aged 3–5 years, correctly classified as an American whiskey.
What is a "Hell Bear"?
Colorado prospector folklore: a part-bear, part-badger creature said to guide lost prospectors home. Mythology named the whiskey for it.
Is there a cask-strength version?
Yes — Mythology also releases a separate Cask Strength Hell Bear at 116–122 proof. This listing is the standard 90-proof expression.
Explore more Mythology Distillery releases and our American whiskey collection. A Double Gold winner with a wild name — order Mythology Hell Bear online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.